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Malagasy leader given ultimatum Malagasy leader given ultimatum
(about 1 hour later)
Madagascar's opposition leader has threatened to lead marchers to the presidential palace if President Marc Ravalomanana does not step down.Madagascar's opposition leader has threatened to lead marchers to the presidential palace if President Marc Ravalomanana does not step down.
Andry Rajoelina, who emerged from hiding to address a mass rally in the capital, said the president had until Saturday afternoon to resign "humbly". Andry Rajoelina, who emerged from hiding to address a mass rally in the capital, said the president should resign "humbly" within hours.
Opposition leaders - who are trying to set up their own government - have occupied the prime minister's offices. His followers have begun forming their own government.
President Ravalomanana says he has no plans to resign. But after the opposition's deadline passed, Mr Ravalomanana was still refusing to stand down.
"Of course I'm still the president," he told Reuters news agency after emerging from the presidential palace to speak to reporters. "I am still president," he said after emerging from the presidential palace outside the capital, Antananarivo, to address hundreds of supporters.
At least 100 people have died since protests broke out in late January. An aide to Mr Rajoelina, who did not wish to be named, said after the deadline had passed that the opposition was still waiting for the president to quit.
'One demand' I, Andry Rajoelina, am ready to carry out the democratic handover of power Madagascar opposition leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7943820.stm">Madagascar's 'young pretender' class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7943822.stm">In pictures: Madagascar unrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis
The Indian Ocean island nation has been rocked by seven weeks of riots, protests and looting amid the fierce power struggle between President Ravalomanana and Mr Rajoelina. "If we don't receive the call [from the president to say he has resigned], something will happen," the aide told Reuters news agency.
I, Andry Rajoelina, am ready to carry out the democratic handover of power Madagascar opposition leader class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7943822.stm">In pictures: Madagascar unrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis The BBC's Jonah Fisher reports that the opposition does not seem to have the appetite for a violent confrontation with the president and his supporters and prefer, instead, to keep turning up the pressure.
Nor, our correspondent adds, has there been any indication that the opposition would settle for a coalition with Mr Ravalomanana.
The Indian Ocean island nation has been rocked by seven weeks of riots, protests and looting which have left about 100 people dead.
The opposition leader - who was sacked by the government as mayor of the capital last month - went into hiding on 5 March after security forces tried to arrest him.The opposition leader - who was sacked by the government as mayor of the capital last month - went into hiding on 5 March after security forces tried to arrest him.
On Saturday, 5,000 of his supporters, clad in orange T-shirts and hats, gathered as Mr Rajoelina reappeared to speak at Antananarivo's 13 May Plaza.On Saturday, 5,000 of his supporters, clad in orange T-shirts and hats, gathered as Mr Rajoelina reappeared to speak at Antananarivo's 13 May Plaza.
The square has been the epicentre of popular revolts since independence from France in 1960. "There is only one demand, that's the departure of Ravalomanana," the 34-year-old businessman and former DJ said.
The 34-year-old businessman and former DJ said: "There is only one demand, that's the departure of Ravalomanana. "I, Andry Rajoelina, am ready to carry out the democratic handover of power."
"We will wait four hours. I, Andry Rajoelina, am ready to carry out the democratic handover of power." He added that he was going to the presidential palace "to say goodbye".
He added: "I am going to go to Iavoloha [presidential palace] to say goodbye to him."
'Civil war'
The BBC's Jonah Fisher says the presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital is defended by hundreds of Mr Ravalomanana's supporters, who responded to his radio appeal on Friday to rally to his cause.
CRISIS TIMELINE December 2006: Marc Ravalomanana returned as president for second term31 January 2009: Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge of the country after weeks of bloody protests3 February: Mr Rajoelina is sacked as mayor of Antananarivo5 March: Mr Rajoelina goes into hiding8 March: Part of army joins opposition13 March: President Ravolamanana urges supporters to turn out and defend his authority14 March: Mr Rajoelina re-emerges and gives president just hours to resign
Our correspondent in Antananarivo says it is still possible the mutiny-hit army could step in, although it too is divided, raising the prospect of what the US ambassador has warned of: civil war.
Mr Rajoelina - who accuses the president of being a tyrant who misspends public money - has been trying to establish an alternative cabinet, with himself as president.Mr Rajoelina - who accuses the president of being a tyrant who misspends public money - has been trying to establish an alternative cabinet, with himself as president.
Opposition activists and leaders earlier on Saturday took control of the prime minister's headquarters in the capital. CRISIS TIMELINE December 2006: Marc Ravalomanana returned as president for second term31 January 2009: Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge of the country after weeks of bloody protests3 February: Mr Rajoelina is sacked as mayor of Antananarivo5 March: Mr Rajoelina goes into hiding13 March: President Ravolamanana urges supporters to turn out and defend his authority14 March: Mr Rajoelina re-emerges and gives president just hours to resign
Roindefo Zafitsimivalo Monja, who the opposition wants to install as the new premier, spoke to reporters from the occupied offices.
"The president of the republic is no longer in a position to exercise the role allocated to him by the constitution," he said, according to AFP news agency. "It is clear the armed forces refuse to obey the president."
On Wednesday, the leader of a widening mutiny within the army ousted the chief of staff and a day later the military police said it would no longer take orders from the government.On Wednesday, the leader of a widening mutiny within the army ousted the chief of staff and a day later the military police said it would no longer take orders from the government.
Col Noel Rakotonandrasa, spokesman for the dissident troops, urged the president to quit "at once" on Friday. "For sure there will be no resistance," he told the BBC. The crisis has hurt the country's economy. Its tourist industry, worth nearly $400m (£290m) a year, has now had two months with no revenue.
Mr Ravalomanana - who has said he wants to stay in power until his mandate runs out in 2011 - has vowed to re-establish order but said his life was under threat. Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy opened to foreign investment but 70% of the nation's 20 million population still live on incomes of less than $2 (£1.40) a day.
For a country with unique rainforest and wildlife - the financial impact of the crisis is already clear, our correspondent says.
A tourist industry worth nearly $400m (£290m) a year has now had two months with no revenue.
Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened to foreign investment but 70% of the nation's 20 million population still live on incomes of less than $2 (£1.40) a day.
Are you in Madagascar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in Madagascar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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